Ealing Trailfinders 6-39 London Welsh
Ealing Trailfinders are still looking for their first home win in the Championship after another promising opening fizzled out.
They led for most of the first half, albeit by only a slender margin and without threatening a try. But once the visitors had clawed in front just before the break, the outcome never looked in doubt.
Three more tries followed in quick succession while Gorge Merrick was sin-binned in the decisive passage of the match early in the second half.
Although the Welsh enjoyed the majority of possession and territory before the break, they were kept at bay by some solid defending from the hosts and one spill from centre Thomas May after quick hands had carved Ealing open through the centre.
Time and again, back rowers Ed Siggery and Merrick thwarted attempts to break the gain line to dampen the Welsh's St David's Day ambitions.
Trailfinders also got on the front foot enough to force three kickable penalties – two of them comfortably dispatched by Ben Ward - and the Green Army had a slender lead for most of the 40 minutes.
But the Exiles drew level with a second penalty from fly-half Will Robinson and the second half took on a different hue with a try in first half injury time.
A penalty kicked to the corner set up a rolling maul and second row Peter Browne got the touchdown to make it 13-6 at half-time – Robinson having converted.
Early in the second half, the lead was extended by a further seven points moments after Merrick was yellow carded for collapsing a maul. Hooker Nathan Vella powered over from another forwards' drive and Robinson added the extras.
Seb Stegmann then profited from a turnover to cross from close range. Phil Chesters had raced back to get to a Robinson kick into the Ealing 22, but was swamped by onrushing Welsh backs and the ball was surrendered.
A bonus point try inevitably followed as winger Nick Scott sliced through the midfield to reach the tryline almost unopposed. Robinson this time failed with the conversion, but it hardly mattered.
With the passing becoming more ragged on a pudding of a pitch, Ealing were again exposed through their own misdeeds and May scampered through for try number five.
Line up: Henderson, Wardingley, McLean-Dents, Bedford, Chesters, Ward, Thompson, Storer, Radoi, Carey, Pape, Meriick, Anderson, Siggery, Evans. Bench: Townsend, Neville, Saunders, Collier, Hocking, Parker, Wheatcroft.
